Here are some herbs that will help you have stay healthy, especially during winter. My expert is Alexa Fleckenstein, MD, author of Health2 0 and Healthy to 100. Here is what she told me:

“Herbs have been with us throughout evolution. They fit into our ancient physiology like a key into a lock. In prehistoric times, we always ate herbs from the wild. In modern life, a bitter green or strong root might just be what your body needs to find its way back to balance.”

Unlike the new “superbugs” that are resistant to antibiotics, bacteria and viruses do not easily develop resistance against herbs, says Dr. Fleckenstein. That is because a single herb contains hundreds or more of compounds, and many of these compounds work on killing off the germs. Since point mutations in bacteria can only develop one by one, it is highly unlikely that an herb becomes ineffective against a pathogen, because there will always be plenty of compounds to destroy the microbes first.

“The word for these compounds working together is synergy,” she explains. “Synergy is the reason why I recommend whole herbs (tinctures or so-called phytocaps with extracts of the whole plant) instead of ‘taking the best’ from several pants, and making a patented medicine. Patent medicines exist because natural plants can’t be patented, and so firms try to make money by taking single compounds from a plant, combining it with other single compound, thus producing a ‘new’ medicine which allegedly is better. The truth is that in many cases it is not better because you cannot improve on nature.”

So what does Dr. Fleckenstein recommend that you have on hand this winter in case illness strikes?

Important caution: Always check with your doctor before taking any herb, since there could be dangerous interactions with other medicines you are taking!

For more information, check out her books (which include not only advice about herbs, but also about cold water, nutrition, movement and life balance). Another great resource is The Green Pharmacy, by ethnobotanist James Duke.

3 responses to “Herbs for Health”

I love your post on helpful herbs for cold and flu season. I have found that cordyceps and ganoderma are great immune system boosters, and when taken regularly before cold season, they have prevented the kids and me from getting the ususal host of “school time” flu and colds. Kids aren’t nessesarily fond of taking big herbal horse pills so I recently tried a hot cocoa (it’s called Coca Mojo) that has cordyceps and ganoderma in it. This has made boosting their immune response really easy!

Plus I don’t feel guilty at all drinking it everyday.
Keep up the great blog and thanks again.
Darren

Dear Darren,
Thanks so much for your comment. I asked my herb expert Dr. Fleckenstein about the herbs you mentioned and here is her reply: “Mushrooms are known to improve immune function against infection and cancer. I also use them regularly as food, in soups and stirfries. Cordiceps and ganoderma are actually not palatable, so they have to be taken as tinctures or capsules.” She had not heard of the Coca Mojo – can you send a website about it? It sounds interesting! Thanks, Roanne